Hamas gunmen surround(L-R) Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi and Or Levy on a stage before handing them over to a Red Cross team in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, on February 8, 2025. (Eyad BABA / AFP)
Three Israeli hostages are handed over to the Red Cross, looking gaunt and pale, after being put through a propaganda ceremony held by Hamas in central Gaza.
Ohad Ben Ami, 56, is the first to be brought out of the Hamas vehicle, followed by Eli Sharabi, 52, and Or Levy, 34.
After the vehicle with the hostages is brought into the area, a Hamas operative wearing a green face mask goes up on stage, giving a fiery speech, where he announces that the three hostages will be released.
Hamas gunmen surround Ohad Ben Ami on a stage before handing him over to a Red Cross team in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, on February 8, 2025 (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)
The stage has captions in Arabic, Hebrew and English saying “We’re the flood, the war’s next day,” an apparent message to US President Donald Trump who said this week that the US would take over Gaza after its residents were sent elsewhere.
Two Red Cross officials are then brought onto the stage to sign the release documents.
Ben Ami is the first to be brought out of the Hamas vehicle, followed by Sharabi, and Levy.
All three are supported by Hamas operatives, holding up a certificate in front of them. All three look very thin and pale and gaunt.
Hamas operatives escort Or Levy on a stage before handing him over to a Red Cross team in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, on February 8, 2025 (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)
Levy is dressed in olive green clothes meant to look like an IDF uniform.
Ben Ami and Sharabi are dressed in brown clothes with their names printed on them to look like prison garb.
The three are made to give propaganda statements while standing on the stage.
Eli Sharabi is walked by Hamas gunmen in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, ahead of his release, Feb. 8, 2025 (Screen grab/YouTube)
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From the Liveblog of
Saturday, February 8, 2025
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